The Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) expects the Amended Employment Equity (EE) Bill to be tabled in parliament before the end of October 2019.
In a statement on Wednesday (9 October), the CEE said that the bill will ‘further entrench and deepen transformation in the workplaces’.
CEE Chairperson, Tabea Kabinde said that the amended EE Bill would empower the Labour Minister to regulate sector-specific employment equity targets and make an EE compliance certificate as a prerequisite for accessing state contracts.
Responding to this week’s Labour Court judgement which reconfirms the Constitutionality and legality of employment equity and affirmative action, she said the ruling was a victory for transformation.
“Employers must continue to report and comply with EE law,” said Kabinde.
In August, Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has expressed concern at the slow pace of workplace transformation and has promised that government will now introduce ‘harsh measures’ to ensure transformation in South African workplaces.
He said that this will include the fast-tracking of amendments to the EE Act,
“Our intention is to resuscitate legislation that could not go through. We hope Parliament will prioritise the bills because their amendments were at (an) advanced stage,” he said.